376 The Executed (1/2)

Jun Li nodded in agreement, her thoughts on the message Nix sent from the Serpent Clans. ”What do you think about Nix's message?”

”I looked it up. In the entire history of Colonial, only six individuals have been executed by heads of state.” Semmi reeled in a bit of line and then leaned back in her chair. ”Shank was one of the original players in Colonial. I can't imagine he wouldn't light up the forums afterward if the account had been erased.”

Jun Li considered her friend's words. ”Suppose Shank and the twins are still around. What's that mean?”

”We shouldn't be guessing what since our information is spotty.” Semmi brought up her hud and sent a quick message.

”Who then?” Jun Li reeled in her line and rebaited the hook. ”Nix always puts the worms on for me; they're so slimy.”

”Don't look at me.” Semmi laughed at her friend's reaction. ”We're thinking the Cabal, right?”

Jun Li Nodded, grimacing slightly while she suffered through rebaiting. ”What's the name of that Nether priestess that advises the council of five?”

”Xia, we know she's part of the Cabal. I've already messaged Ducky.” Semmi exhaled and cast her line out again.

”Ducky?” Jun Li shook her head slightly. ”Does she know Xia?”

”No. But she knows Leva, the two of them will ask some questions.”

**************

1800 hours Chyanama City, Nether

Leva sat behind her desk, her dark eyes watching Ducky while she briefed her. ”Three people, that should be dead are in Seryndefi? Could they be minions?”

Ducky shook her head slightly. ”That doesn't work on outworlders. It's definitely some kind of cover-up, maybe a pipeline to Oasis or Everspire.”

”Should we be careful? Xia has a lot of influence in the Nether.” Leva didn't like the dark priestess; Nix told her not to trust her.

”More than Nix?” Ducky looped a hand through her friend's arm. ”She'll talk.”

The two were still sitting together when Xia entered the office less than an hour later.

Leva gestured to the chair across from them. ”Please have a seat.”

Xia's wide-set eyes were staring at the two women. Leva had a reputation for being ruthless, while Ducky was part of Nix's inner circle. ”I don't have long.”

Ducky smiled pleasantly. ”That's fine. Nix asked me to inquire about something. Has the Cabal targeted him? Or is it you personally?”

Leva watched the dark priestess's reaction; she was definitely hiding something. ”Forget about porting out of here; you don't leave my city unless I say you do.”

Xia's pale face seemed to grow pasty, moisture oozing from her pores. ”I assure you, nothing could be further from the truth.”

”Don't waste your time.” Xia's dark eyes grew cold, ”I'm immune to mind influences, and the moment you try it, the Cabal will be alerted.”

Ducky has bewitched Xia the Dark Priestess.

Ducky moved toward Xia, her blue eyes staring. ”You're quite beautiful, Xia, and so powerful. I admit that I'm quite taken with you.”

Xia smiled tentatively. ”Oh. I'm not sure what to say. Thank you.”

The Water Witch caressed the priestess's face with the back of her hand. ”Any safeguards protecting you from being questioned?”

Xia shook her head. ”No one would dare try.”

Ducky nodded in agreement. ”Nix is in danger. Leva and I are just trying to protect him.”

”I understand. Nix is important to the Cabal; also, he's a counterbalance to the dragon's power base.”

”Can you help me solve a mystery?” Ducky's smooth voice filled the room. ”Shank, Vera, and Tula are three outlanders that were supposed to be executed in Jenzi last year; somehow, they surfaced in Everspire.”

Xia's lips curved in a smile. ”I don't know those names, but heroes who are about to be executed are offered entry positions in the Assassin Guild.”

Ducky glanced at Leva, who was using her hud to record everything. ”There's an Assassin's guild? How does it relate to the Serpent Clan?”

Xia shook her head. ”It doesn't really. They've infiltrated all the Titan Clans, the human clans, and the Dhassi in Oasis.”

”I see. Thank you for telling us.” Ducky walked back to her seat next to Leva. ”What is their agenda?”

Xia shrugged slightly. ”Credits. They don't have a political agenda. You pay them to kill someone, and that person dies.”

Ducky leaned over and watched as Leva sent the interview to Semmi and Nix. ”That's about it.”

Ducky has removed the bewitchment on Xia, the Dark Priestess.

Xia's dark eyes looked confused for a moment before she jumped to her feet. ”You two bitches! You're both dead! Once the Cabal finds out, the two of you are going to be hunted and put down like sick dogs.”

Ducky smiled slightly, covering her mouth with one hand. ”That's fine. We recorded the entire interview; our people already have the information.”

Leva nodded in confirmation. ”The secrets out.”